Improvement in machines for pulling



S. BEERS. MACHINE FOR PULLING AND CUTTING COTTON STALKS, &c.

Patented Jan 17, 1860.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SMITH BEERS, OF NAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT.

iMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR PULLlNG AND CUTTING COTTON-STALKS.

Specification forming part of Lefiiers Patcnt No- 26,2Z8, (la-ted January 17, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that E, SMITH BEERS, of Nongotnck, in the county of. New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Pulling and Cutting Cot ton-Stalks, and other Stalks, Roots, &c.; and I dohereby iQCiELE'B that the following is n fol and exact iiescription thereof, reference being nail in the accompanying drawings, making part; of this specification-- Fignre i being e front elevation of the meeiiine; Fig. 2, e plan of the nnrier side thereof 3, a vertical section thereof in the plane in rlicetezl by the line a: of, Fig. 1; 4, n trans verse section in e. piano cutting the center of the wiieelexics and exhibiting e modification of tile ecnstrnciion of the nailing-wheels,

Line letters dresignaie corresponding parts in all the figures. I

A frame, A, ofsniiebie consmnction to re cei ze iiie other ports of the machine is provitiefi, and mounted on (generally only} two snsteining nail liaising wheels, 6 U, of about four feet in litlmfiifii, more or less, sccnrecl to separate axles or shafts i 1), Us the inner eii iaeenri eno s oi the axles are respeeiively se enreci lilfi pnlling-wiieels E These pulling wheels are of about some aiiameier es the (ilii'illg-li'ii6i$, and ilie axles 1 D are inelineil ngi'werel iowaril the center of the machine, so as to bring the lower edges of the pniiing'wlieels, say, about eight inches higher than the lower edges of ilie driving-wheels. This inelinetion of the sxies gives to the'pnliing-wlacels a corresponding inclination in each other, so that while iiieir rims at the-low reiiges nearly touch each other at their upper edges they are con sitiembiy sepereteinns shown in the drawings. The raising of time pulling-wheels shove the greens, also naturally adopts them to pass over the bills or ridges around. the stalks, while the driving-wheels more in the furrows between the ridges 5 but in tiiis respect the polling-wheels are rnmie of a suitable (iifilflfiil in relation to the driving-wheels to bring their lower edges the proper distance above the ground to suit the pnrnoses intended, While the inclination of the pulling-wheels in relation to each other, as above specified, is required for their proper oporation. The inner ends of the axles also incline forward somewhat, (properly about half as much as they incline npward,) so that the place of contact or nearest approach of the wheels shall be somewhat farther back and higher than the lowest points of their peripheries, in orcier that their action in pulling may be exerted to the best advantage. The inner faces of the rims d cl of these wheels are provided with suitable teeth or projections to enable them to hold the stalks Without slipping. This may be conveniently efi'ected by making concenirie grooves and cross-radial notches therein, as shown in the drawings. The-rims fit togetiier at their nearest point of approach, and are separated only just far enough there to admit the compressed stalks between them. If the stalks are dry enough, or of a nature to lie reaiiily broken and crumbled, the pulling wheels themselves mev one or reduce them to tile groper fineness in the act of pulling them.

es'lges and fit snihciently close in the spacesfj' to force in the stalks and out or break them in n see. 'lo trim off and clear sway such pieces or linncli es of stalks as may project throng-i the outside of the Wheels knives may be secured elose to the outer faces of the wheels, as shown at m in Fig. 2; but ii the stalks are green, wet, crof such a nature as not to be out or broken in this we" rcariiiy the wheels may have ordican spokes and retreat from each other by mailing the inner faces of the wheels somewhat concave, as in Fig, 4, so that the tops of the stalks may pass oaelr readily through the intervening space in pulling. in this case addi iionnl cutters or choppers may be employed. A. method. of arranging these is represented in the drawings, there being a vertical cylinder, H, at; the rear and of the machine, provided with iilliVES h it, working against a chop-roller, I, pleceil opposite, as shown. The knife cylintier may be horizontal instead of vertical, as in the drawings, and be driven by nandin g or gearing from one of the axles D D. The stalks are gathered and directeo to the pulling-wheels, first, by (he concave outline of the front of the frame or platform between the shafts B B, as shown at a a, and beside this construction by the employment of a pair. or two of wheels or rollers, G G, on vertical axes and provided with radial gathering-amine b. substantially as shown in the drawings,

The machineis simply drawn along by horses traveling outside of the shafts or tongues B B centrally over the rows of stalks, which are first gathered between the arms of the rollers G G, and directed thereby between the front-separated edges of the pulling-wheels E E, which in turning downward-and backward approach close together, and thereby grip and securely hold the stalks, and then, in turni-n g backward still farther, and ascending at the same time, pull the stalks-up out of the ground, and a little afterward separate and let the stalks fall back from the machine, either cut and broken in pieces by the pulling-wheels themselves, when they are provided with intermatching spokes, or passed in a whole condition back to the chopping-knives .h h to reduce them to the proper fineness for plowing into the ground.

structed and operating as described, in com'bination with the pulling-wheels E E.

In witness that the above is'a true specification of my improved machine for pulling and.

cnttingcotton-stalks and otherstalks and roots I hereunto set my hand this 28th day of November, 1859.

SMITH BEERS. Witnesses:

W. O. BRISTOL, NELSON FULLER. 

